1/72 Plastic Napoleonics Update
lr...@pge.com
On the utility of plastics in raising Napoleonic Armies - 10/27/98
A surprising variety of plastic sets are available for Napoleonics,
all in 1/72 (or 20mm ) scale.
Most Napoleonic period armies can be created in whole or
substantially in plastic, but there are notable gaps. The following is
a prospectus by nation on the sort of armies that can be created
using plastic kits currently in production. I will note the manufacturers
of appropriate kits and describe kit modifications as necessary
France
Line Infantry - 1807 uniform- ESCI, Italeri. Both sets represent infantry
from 1807-1812 in semi-field uniform without shako cords or
tall plumes, but also without shako covers. Both sets have all
the men wearing high gaiters.
The Italeri figures are quite elegant in form, and
they include no less than four officers, two drummers, and
two Eagles; unfortunately all the men have sabre-briquets
but no epaulettes (other than the officers); epaulettes can
be painted on, but this is a substantial problem for the
purist.
ESCI figures seem harder to find, have fewer officers/flags,
but most figures are properly without sabres.
ESCI generally has finer details, but the Italeri set
is easier to paint due to more pronounced detailing.
ESCI figures are substantially larger than Italeri; they
probably
will not work well on the same stand, in a similar pose.
The Italeri figures have finer necks, so this is generally
not as good as the ESCI set as a source of shako heads for
conversion.
Line Infantry - 1812 uniform - HaT re-release of Airfix figures;
Note this set has a reputation for ugliness.
All figures have calf-length gaiters.
Light Infantry - ESCI, Italeri, Airfix Line Infantry with a different paint
job.
Note that the common light infantry hussar-style
gaiters are not easy to accomplish. It is probably
best to leave them in long gaiters.
The best figures to use for light infantry are those
where the arms or musket obscure the waist, or where
the waist is not well detailed. Light infantry
lapels were different from line.
There are no hornist figures available in plastic.
There is a trumpeter in the Airfix/HaT set, but this
is probably not accurate.
Light infantry carabiniers often wore bearskins or
busbies; busby heads are available from the Revell
chasseurs set; for carabiniers in bearskins use grenadier
figures as below :
Grenadiers - ESCI, Airfix (Guard Grenadiers, but can be painted to
be any other grenadiers), Revell (in greatcoats).
For pre-1806 (bicorne) Infantry use Prussian heads from the ESCI Austrians
and Prussians set.
Infantry in greatcoats - Revell Guard Grenadiers, with
Shako/bicorne heads from other sets.
Infantry in trousers - ESCI French Guard Grenadiers, with shako/bicorne heads.
But all will have sabres and epaulettes, of course.
Guard Infantry - ESCI/Airfix/Revell Guard Grenadiers work well for both the
Old Guard grenadiers and chasseurs, but the bearskin plates
should be covered with paint or white glue for the Chasseurs.
Young Guard and Middle Guard (Fusilier-Grenadiers, etc)units
wore shakos - use a line infantry set.
Sappers - The ESCI Guard Grenadier set has three sappers; the Revell
Guards set has one.
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars (Shakos),
Revell Chasseurs (Busbies, but no pelisse);
ESCI/Airfix British Light Dragoons/Hussars can be converted
with shako heads, for the desperate.
Guard Chasseurs a Cheval - Revell (too bad these are only the Guard. Regular
line Chasseurs would be more useful). Note that the busbies are lacking
bags, cords, and plumes. Officers horse has a leopard skin shabraque, the
only one in plastic, as far as I know.
Line Chasseurs a Cheval - For pre-1803 Chasseurs (Tarletons) use ESCI or
Airfix British artillery heads on bodies of Italeri Hussars (no pelisse) or
Revell Chasseurs.
For post-1803 Chasseurs with hussar-style dolman use Revell
Chasseurs with shako heads for the
most part, or some of the Italeri hussars without pelisse.
Elite company men can be from the Revell set left in busbies.
This hussar-style uniform was in use until quite late in
the period (up to 1809 at least) in several regiments.
There is no good solution in plastic for the 1803-1812 period;
Qualitycast has a range of metal Chasseurs (charging only) for
1803-1812 in this scale that fit in very well with plastics.
For 1812 and later, the HaT French line lancers with shako
heads are quite plausible, at least if armed with add-on sabres.
The best horses for chasseurs are Italeri Hussar horses, with the
crescent decoration removed. The HaT lancer horses are quite
accurate, but not so well modelled.
Cuirassiers - ESCI. Airfix. Note the ESCI set lacks a trumpeter. The ESCI
cuirassiers are also rather small in comparison with almost any
other plastic cavalry, in particular the horses. A trumpeter
solution would be to use a HaT dragoon with a trumpet hand/arm
from another set - a good source would be the ESCI British
infantry that has four trumpeters. Make sure to use an ESCI
cuirassier horse as the HaT dragoon horses are much larger.
A fix for the cuirassier size problem would be to use
Italeri carabinier horses with the ESCI curassiers. They would
look more like heavy cavalry.
Carabiniers 1809 and earlier - HaT French Dragoons with bearskin heads from a
French Grenadier set; trim off all bearskin decorations and cover over the
plate with white glue. This conversion also applies to dragoon elite
companies.
Carabiniers (post 1809) - Italeri - very pretty set, heads are very fine and
useful for conversion - See Saxons below.
Polish Lancers - ESCI (Czapka is covered, not much detail, except for the
trumpeter);
can be used for Polish and Dutch (Red) Guard Lancers, Vistula
Legion, 7th-9th "Polish" regiments of line lancers.
Mamelukes - HaT - A fine set, possibly HaT's best effort.
Dragoons - HaT - Useful set, but notably poor in detail in comparison with
ESCI/Italeri. Large horses. Note that dragoon and curassier
heads are rather difficult to transplant to other figures
due to the "tails".
Other dragoons are coming (soon, I hope) from Italeri
Line Lancers - HaT - Another useful but imperfect set. "Combed" helmet heads
are useful for conversions.
Grenadiers a Cheval - coming from HaT; alternately a conversion from
dragoons as per the Carabiniers, above.
Artillery - ESCI, Airfix
The old Airfix set is truly awful, the guns seem
to be in 15mm scale and badly detailed, and the horses look like
Shetland ponies; but useful for the crew figures - which aren't
great either, but they are in scale.
The ESCI set is Guard (bearskin)artillery, so use Airfix crew or
swap heads with shakos. The ESCI guns seem to all be 12lbers or
6" Howitzers - i.e., all large guns.
There is a need for a definitive French artillery set, as done
by Revell for the British.
Other figures - Every French infantry set has an eagle bearer with a molded
banner; but since many people prefer paper flags (no need to
paint these) one would have to convert these figures.
Senior Officers - One mounted officer in bicorne and "surtout"
is in the Revell Grenadier set; otherwise generals will have
to be converted. Standing horses suitable for officers are
present in the Revell Guard Chasseurs set; the officer (and
horse) in this set is also suitable as a cavalry general.
The Airfix/HaT Infantry set also comes with a mounted officer
that should probably be converted with a bicorne.
The Italeri French Staff set is supposed to be out this year;
it should solve most of the French (and other nations) staff
problems.
Russia -
Pre-1805 Infantry - ESCI Prussians from the Austrians and Prussians set.
1805-1812 Infantry - Italeri/ESCI Russian Grenadiers w/heads replaced with
shako heads from other sets. Note that bicornes were
worn through the 1807 campaign in many units.
1812-1815 Infantry - ESCI Russian Grenadiers (have distinctive Kiver Shakos)
Grenadiers in Mitre caps, any period - Italeri Russian Grenadiers
Jagers - Use appropriate Infantry figures above; the only distinctions are
in the paint job.
Hussars - pre-1812 - Italeri French Hussars; best ones are probably those
wearing
the pelisse. Horses from the ESCI French Lancers, as Russian Hussars
had a long pointed shabraque; but these aren't quite right. Best
horses are
from Revell's SYW Prussian Hussars, which have the right sort of
zigzag
trim, if this set can be obtained.
Hussars post 1812 - Italeri Hussars w/ heads from ESCI Russian Grenadiers.
The best figures for this are probably those wearing their
pelisse. As above for the horses. Note that the front rank
of some Hussar regiments carried lances in this period.
This
is a fairly simple conversion using ESCI/HaT lances with
pennons.
Dragoons - HaT Russian Dragoons - works for the period 1805-1812; for 1812
and later HaT recommends trimming the comb on the helmet. The HaT Russian
dragoons are one of the better HaT efforts.
Cuirassiers - Coming from HaT
Uhlans - ESCI French Lancers are a beginning, but the czapka isn't quite
convincing.
and the uniform needs to have the braid trimmed. Alternately, HaT
French
lancers with Czapka heads from ESCI avoids the braid issue, and the
jacket
looks more correct.
Cossacks - HaT Cossacks in tall caps; They also provide alternate busbies in
the set.
One might want to try some variety in hats, such as from ACW
Zouaves,
Airfix/Hat Prussian Landwehr peaked caps, ESCI British Hussar
busbies,
etc. The HaT Cossacks are the best figures from HaT so far.
Artillery - HaT Russian Artillery, swap heads as appropriate for bicornes/
early shakos.(see infantry above). Note that the HaT guns and
gunners
seem rather small compared with ESCI, etc. The gun carriages also
seem rather flimsy for some of the barrels they supply for them.
More strangely, the sets I have seen have Prussian gun barrels
(including howitzer barrels, which the Russians did not use)on
the Russian gunner/carriage sprues, and Russian gun barrels (the
distinctive licornes) on Prussian sprues. And all the sets I have
seen have both Prussian and Russian sprues in the same box.
This is not as bad as it sounds, as the Prussian and Russian
uniforms
were nearly identical. Russian/Prussian gun carriages were
distinctive,
but the Prussians would have used numbers of Russian guns.
Prussia 1812-1815
Infantry - Revell; A fine set that includes a mounted officer in cap (think
Blucher or the Landwehr)
Landwehr - HaT (an old Airfix set re-cast by HaT)
Dragoons - HaT (a rather poor set; lacking a trumpeter)
Uhlans - HaT (somewhat better, but still not up to Italeri/Revell;
rather microcephalic; also lacks a trumpeter)
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars; Probably best to use HaT Dragoon
or Uhlan horses.
Landwehr Cavalry - use HaT Prussian Uhlans, remove the plume (probably)
Reserve Infantry - Some regiments were in regular infantry garb, others
looked like Landwehr.
For infantry in short jackets use British line figures
(a bit of a stretch) for some regiments.
Other possibilities:
Imex Alamo defenders set;
about 1/3 of the figures are in a sort of regular uniform
with short single-breasted jacket, trousers, and billed
cap similar to the Prussian cap of the period; heads can
also be swapped for shakos (covered in white glue to look
like covers).
HaT Brunswickers have a similar uniform, and with a
shako head swap should have a similar appearance.
Advantages of the the HaT set are that figures have blanket rolls
and there are 4 officers included.
Another HaT Brunswicker conversion is to fashion a cap (like
the Landwehr) by trimming the hat down to a low cylinder and
adding a piece of card on top- cover with white glue and it can
look quite plausible. Or just attach Landwehr heads, of course,
but I find the HaT Brunswick necks a little difficult to get
at.
Artillery - HaT Prussian Artillery. Note problems as with Russian Artillery
above; note that the Prussian gun carriages look more substantial
than the Russian ones.
Prussia 1806
Infantry - ESCI Austrians and Prussians (only 25 Prussians to a box, and
one is playing a Jager horn, so its out)
Jagers - ditto, but keep the hornist
Fusiliers - ditto, with Shako heads attached. I'm not sure if you
keep the hornist. Try Revell Rifles shako.
Dragoons, Curassiers - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers; the sabretache
should be removed for dragoons, I believe. This can be
tricky.
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars for regiments with shakos. Obviously,
those regiments still wearing mirlitons in 1806 are a problem.
Robert Fuhrman suggests the Revell SYW Prussian Hussars.
This set is hard to find but can be had; the figures are very
well modelled. Note that the curious SYW-period hussar pants
should be made to look like overalls, somehow. I can't see
cutting up these scarce figures though.
Artillery - HaT Prussian Artillery with bicorne heads from ESCI Prussians;
not quite right, but plausible.
Austria
Infantry, German, helmets - Italeri Austrian Infantry, ESCI Austrians
and Prussians
Grenadiers, German - Italeri Austrian Infantry (scrape the knots
off the Grenadiers trousers)
Infantry, Hungarian, helmets - Italeri Austrian Infantry (take the
Grenadiers, swap heads with the line infantry, and scrape off the gaiter
buttons)
Grenadiers, Hungarian - Italeri Austrian Infantry (scrape off the
gaiter buttons on the Grenadiers)
Infantry, 1809 and later - As above, with shako heads (there is no really
adequate shako as the Austrian infantry model had a rear peak). Note that
for the 1809 campaign Austria had only partly converted to shakos.
Jagers and light infantry - 1798-1805 - ESCI/Italeri Austrians
1808 and later - Italeri/ESCI Austrians with heads from
HaT Brunswickers (corsehut hats); note that the HaT corsehuts
aren't particularly well done, and are difficult to cut off
cleanly on most figures; You could also use the HaT
Brunswickers straight, as recommended by HaT, but I feel that
the lack of the distinctive Austrian equipment detracts from this
solution.
Grenz - Italeri Austrian Infantry; use grenadiers, trim gaiter buttons and
attach Shako heads - the Revell Rifles shako's are probably the best
bet for pre-1809, shorn of badge, cords and plume.
For the native Balkan "klobuk" hat, try a peakless shako without
pompom, coated in white glue.
The ambitious could try modeling the distinctive cloak
with plastic clay.
Landwehr - Most illustrations of the Landwehr involved in the Aspern/Wagram
fighting show peasant breeches and hose with a knee-length overcoat, and a
wide-brimmed hat. I don't know of an easy conversion for this effect.
Lets see - Body from HaT Landwehr, legs from an AWI set, head with paper
floppy hat ?
Volunteers - Mostly use standard Austrian Infantry with shakos or HaT
Brunswick corsehut heads
Hungarian Insurrection infantry - No adequate figure, as they had hussar-style
jackets
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars. Also Hungarian Insurrection cavalry.
Horses are a problem. The best option is probably to wait for the
HaT Austrian Cuirassiers. Alternately, ESCI French Lancer horses
may work.
Dragoons/Chevauxlegers - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers or ESCI Scots Greys and
attach Austrian helmeted heads (ESCI or Italeri), trim off the sabretache;
or, Revell British Horse Guards with their sabretaches and plumes removed work
well for the later period.
Same problem with horses, as above. A not unreasonable solution are
the Italeri Carabinier horses.
Cuirassiers - Coming from HaT
Uhlans - ESCI Polish Lancers are a beginning, but the czapka is rather
inadequate. There is also some braid to remove on the uniform.
Alternately, HaT French Lancers with czapkas. Horses from HaT
Russian Dragoons, or possibly Revell British Guards
Artillery - ? Bicornes were usual, but no artillery set is easily convertible
as all are too different in style. Guns were also distinctive.
Robert Fuhrman suggests the ESCI Russian Crimean War set for the
crew (in overcoats), but this is probably the rarest ESCI set of
them all.
The Revell SYW Austrian Artillery set has the ideal guns, complete with
the distinctive prolonge brackets, but this is another scarce set. It
also is complete with a limber and superb 4-horse team. Figures are great
also, but not too useful as Napoleonics.
Metal guns and crew are listed by Newline designs.
Spain -
Infantry 1808 - ESCI Austrians and Prussians; use the Prussians;
alternately, depending on who's illustrations you trust,
the HaT/Airfix French line with bicornes from ESCI Prussians.
Lt. Infantry 1808 - ditto, for 1806 regulation uniform, use the figures
with the cartridge box in front. Note that 1802
uniform still in use in 1808 had a hussar-style jacket;
there is no known conversion for this one. I have done a
version with greatcoats using ESCI British Artillery heads
and Accurate AWI Colonial bodies.
Infantry, Lt Infantry 1812-13 - British Infantry with Revell Rifles
shakos. Paint over the uniform lace.
Infantry post-1813 - Airfix/HaT French Infantry
Grenadiers 1808 - as infantry above, but scratch-built bearskins (not
simple); start with a French grenadier head; trim off all decorations,
flatten the back; attach to a body and add a paper hanging bag. Painting
the embroidery on the bag is extremely difficult. You can also use ESCI or
Italeri Russian Grenadier bodies with this head; best ones are those without
packs.
Militia - regular militia as Infantry; Junta regiments mostly looked
French, some like Austrians in shakos.
Another possibility are the 1/3 of the Imex Alamo defenders
set that looks like "regular" infantry - they come in short
jackets and trousers, and with a shako could be used
for several junta regiments.
Other militia (Somatenes, Migueletes, etc. ) would look much
like guerillas, with only the officers in uniform - see below.
Guerillas - Not as simple a problem as one would think. Spanish national
dress tended to breeches and hose, with floppy hats, bandannas, and
something that looked like a Phrygian cap (liberty cap) , plus
every other sort of period civilian dress.
Accurate AWI Colonial Militia has most of its figures in knee-breeches,
and has several figures that look quite good with stocking caps, these
should be usable as guerillas or militia without
conversion; others would be usable with floppy hats or top ("round") hats
in place of bicornes;
The Imex Alamo defenders set has several
other usable figures in floppy hats, round hats, and some figures with
blunderbusses (a favorite Spanish guerilla weapon).
I have cut Accurate AWI and ESCI figures in half, and attached
the top half of the Texican figures to the bottom half of the AWI figures
to give quite plausible Spanish Guerillas with the short jacket-knee breeches
look. It takes some work.
French/Austrian/Prussian/Russian officers with bicornes would be appropriate
for Spanish officers, as they wore almost any uniform. The best effect would
be to give them the extra-large bicornes they favored, made from paper or
card.
Dragoons, Cavalry - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers; Most appropriate horses
are from HaT Prussians. Note two dragoon regiments wore Hussar-
style uniforms in 1808; use Italeri hussars without pelisse.
Hussars - Spanish hussars should have Mirliton
hats, indicating the Revell hussar set, unfortunately.
By 1809 most probably were in shakos, so one could probably get
aqay with Italeri French Hussars.
Appropriate horses are from HaT Prussians.
Cazadores - Italeri French Hussars (no pelisse) w/ Tarletons from ESCI
or Airfix British Artillery. For the best effect try to add
a cartridge box to the waist.
Artillery - HaT Prussian Art w/ bicorne heads from ESCI Prussians.
French artillery figures also work for Spanish Artillery, with
bicornes, Floppy hats or floppy hats with the front brim pinned up
Britain -
Infantry, 1812-1815 - ESCI, Revell, Airfix re-release coming from HaT
About 1/3 of the ESCI set is Highlanders; but note
that it has two each of flag-bearing officers,
boy drummers, and trumpeters, all useful for conversion
and supplements to other sets.
Infantry, 1801-1812 - ESCI, Revell, with heads from Revell British Rifles
I have heard that CTS is releasing 1/72 versions of
their 1/32 British Light Infantry figures. These
would be ideal for the period with little or no
modififaction.
Light Infantry and Grenadiers - as Infantry, 1801-1812, but with "wings"
Highland - Italeri, Airfix, ESCI (1/3 of the British Infantry box)
Rifles - Revell (a most useful kit for stovepipe shako heads !)
Hussars - Airfix Waterloo Cavalry, ESCI Lt. Dragoons (both have Busbies)
Lt.Dragoons 1801-1812 - heads from ESCI British Artillery on Airfix or ESCI
British Hussar/Lt. Dragoon figures, or probably even Italeri
French Hussars without pelisses.
The traditional conversion is to use Airfix Horse Artillery
riders (with swords added to some); but note that you only
get 4 per box.
Horse Guards, 1813-15 - Revell (fine set)
Dragoons 1813-1815 - A difficult conversion from Revell British Horse Guards -
cut off the chenille (caterpillar-like crest on helmet)
and glue on paper(?) horsehair tail a la French Dragoons,
plus an upright bit in front (also as the French)
Scots Greys, 1815 - Italeri, ESCI (a famous regiment, but wargamers need
regular dragoons !). Heads are useful as covered shakos
Dragoons pre-1813 - ? No kit known. Bicorne hat and coat decorated with lace,
not easily approximated by any other set.
Horse Artillery - ESCI, Airfix, (Tarleton hats) Airfix guns are more
detailed than ESCI, but ESCI guns are to scale and figures are nicer.
Airfix includes a six-horse team, but the horses look like
Shetland ponies. Both sets are a source for Tarleton hats and similar.
Foot Artillery - Revell. Excellent set includes some artillery train figures
and a multitude of diorama accessories, plus a beautiful
limber and
4-horse team. Note that all British artillery uniquely had a
solid
(one-piece) trail, making British guns mostly unsuitable for
other nations.
Portugal
Infantry pre-1810 - ESCI, Airfix, Revell British Infantry. Note that
the uniform details will have to be painted over, as they had a simpler
single breasted jacket.
Cazadores - As Infantry; braid should be painted on.
Infantry post-1810 - British infantry with heads from Revell Rifles, no
lace.
Cazadores - ditto, with braid/lace
Cavalry - Revell British Horse Guards should be usable without conversion.
Artillery - Revell British Artillery
Saxony
Infantry pre-1812 - Use Prussians from ESCI Austrians and Prussians ? Note
that the jacket isn't quite right, so it would be best to select figures
with the lower lapels obscured.
Grenadiers - as above, with heads from Airfix 1776 British Grenadiers.
Infantry 1812 - 1815 - Use French Infantry in 1812-style jacket (Airfix/
HaT French infantry), or Italeri/ESCI French infantry poses with the lower
lapels obscured.
Guard Grenadiers 1812-1815 - As infantry 1812-15, but with Airfix
1776 British Grenadiers heads (as per some sources).
Chevauxlegers pre-1812 - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers, with sabretache
removed. Note the Saxon Chevauxlegers had double-breasted jackets, but this
would mostly be obscured by the cross-straps. Paint on some buttons.
Cuirassiers pre-1812 - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers, with sabretache removed.
almost a perfect match.
Hussars pre-1812 - Revell SYW Hussars - again.
Cuirassiers 1812-1815 - Italeri French Carabiniers are a possible substitute
for Saxon Cuirassiers, but note different epaulettes. Use
Italeri French Carabinier horses.
Guard du Corps, 1812-1815 - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers with heads from
Italeri French Carabiniers, with a blanket roll added
(air-hardening plastic clay is probably good) for best
results. The blanket roll can be used to obscure the
sabretache. Horses as above.
Chevauxlegers, 1812-1815 - HaT French Lancers with shako heads; Use ESCI
Lancer horses.
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars; horses from ESCI Lancers.
Artillery pre-1812 - ? Airfix French Artillery with bicorne heads from ESCI
Prussians. Not an ideal fix.
Artillery 1812-1815 - use Airfix French artillery
USA (war of 1812) - from information supplied by Chris Johnson
and Ross Macfarlane -
Regular Infantry, Early period - Use French Infantry
Regular Infantry, Later - Use British infantry, trim the wings and paint
over the lace
Regular Rifle regiments - Revell Rifles
Artillery - Revell British Artillery, with bicorne or stovepipe shako from
Revell Rifles. Use French guns.
Regular Cavalry - ? Wore a plumed helmet.
Militia Infantry - Many conversions are liklely, but more research is
necessary Many uniforms - Pennsylvania-round hat (like a low top hat)
Baltimore - shako with a turban around it Others wore no uniform or typical
western garb of the period - conversion sources are likely in the Accurate
AWI colonials and Imex Texan sets.
Militia cavalry - Again, many conversions may be possible.
NY and Penn. militia dragoons wore
the pre-1812 British light dragoon pattern uniform, so
a similar conversion should work.
The Boston hussars wore typical hussar garb, etc.
Other nations - One helpful feature of the period is that many minor
states had uniforms very similar to the major powers.
In particular, before 1809 most states troops looked
like ESCI Prussians or French with bicornes, post-1809
most looked French. Hussars almost always looked the
same in any army.
Baden - Austrian heads (ESCI, Italeri) on ESCI Prussians
Helmet combs were "furrier" than the Austrians, so some
tacky glue may help. Hussars like the French, horses from
French Lancers. Dragoons and Garde du Corps use HaT
Russian dragoons, possibly with added plume. Horses
from HaT French Dragoons.
Bavarians are a hopeless case. that HAT! If you need any,
you need
a lot (a division's worth), and there are no simple
head/body swaps possible. Buy metal - Frontline figures ?
Berg - Infantry post-1809 use HaT/Airfix French
Artillery - Use Airfix French Artillery
The famous Berg Lancers - depending on the
period, use HaT French Lancers with shakos,
or ESCI French Lancers without braid. Horses
from ESCI French Lancers or HaT Lancers, depending
on your source.
Hesse - Infantry - 1806 - HaT/Airfix French with bicornes
Infantry - 1809 and later - HaT/Airfix French
some lace decoration may need to be added in either
case.
Artillery - Airfix French Artillery
Garde du Corps - Italeri Prussian Cuirassiers, HaT
French dragoon horses.
Chevauxlegers - HaT Russian dragoon heads, HaT French
Lancer bodies (with swords instead of lances),
Italeri French Carabinier horses (?)
Holland - pre-Waterloo - French in every way but color
Italy - French, French, French except -
Gardes d'honneur - HaT French dragoons with Italeri
Carabinier heads, French dragoon horses
Naples - French, French, French, with lots of bright colors
Nassau - Infantry - Mainly Austrians in shakos, bicornes
for
the early periods. For Grenadiers use Austrians
with busbies from the Revell Guard Chasseurs, but
note the lack of epaulettes.
Chevauxlegers - Italeri Hussars
Poland (1812) - Infantry - for many regiments use HaT/Airfix French Some
grenadiers used bearskins, so swap bearskin heads For Regiments in Czapkas,
unfortunately one must use ESCI French Lancer heads (only 12 per box !)
Cuirassiers - ESCI French Cuirassiers Hussars - Italeri French Hussars; note
that trumpeters wore busbies Lancers - ESCI French Lancers
Chasseurs-a-cheval - HaT French Lancers with shakos and swords.
Sweden - Another hopeless hat. Not available even in metal.
Westphalia -1812 - Infantry - HaT/Airfix French Infantry
Hussars - Italeri French Hussars
Chevauxlegers - HaT French Lancers
Garde-du-corps - Italeri Carabiniers, add plume
use Italeri Prussian Cuirassier
horses
Artillery - Airfix French Artillery
Switzerland - French in Red
Hanover - French service - French in Red
British service - as British
Miscellaneous Notes -
Italeri French Hussars. These are beautifully made, and they come with a
variety of clothing options, making this almost a universal Napoleonic hussar
kit. There are figures with and without pelisse, wearing pelisse, with
breeches&boots and with overalls; with and without shako cords, chinscales up
or down. Choose the appropriate figure and paint them as French, Prussians,
Austrians, Russians, etc.
ESCI Austrian and Prussian Infantry - The Prussians are very versatile, as
this uniform style with bicorne was quite widespread. This is also a good
source for bicorne heads. Use the Prussians for Prussian line and Jagers,
Saxons, Spaniards, Russians, most minor German states pre-1809, etc. You will
get stuck with a lot of Austrians, however.
Horses for conversion - It is a good idea to stock up on several cavalry
kits just for the horses, as the horse furniture varied between armies as did
uniforms. I am using HaT Prussian horses for Spanish Dragoons, for instance.
Prices - Kit prices vary from $ 4.00 - $ 8.00, with ESCI/Airfix on the cheap
side and Revell at the high end. There are from 48-50 Infantry and 12-18
cavalry in a set.
Availability - ESCI - Hard to get for a while, but now are plentiful.
Two sets - Crimean Russians and British Hussars -
are almost completely unavailable.
Airfix - Some kits are still to be found from the Humbrol
re-release. Many more are probably going to be issued
by other makers.
Revell Germany - Generally available, but they have a habit
of dropping sets. Many are no longer in production.
Watch for the SYW sets (Prussian Hussars and Austrian
artillery) as these are valuable for this period.
Italeri - The most easily available sets
Hat - A new company, usually hard to find in hobby stores
but easily available by mail order. HaT has released
several old Airfix sets and intends to release most,
perhaps, of the relevant Napoleonic sets.
The Prussian Landwehr seem to be out of stock at the
moment.
Accurate - A limited range of peripheral value to Napoleonics,
particularly AWI and US Civil War, but generally easy to
find.
Imex - Produces many sets, notably artillery teams,
of peripheral value for Napoleonics. Quite easy to find.
Quality - Detail in plastic figures is generally not as pronouced as in metal
figures, and this scale is somewhat smaller than metal 25mm, so most are
harder to paint than metal. The flexible plastic makes cleaning flash harder
than with metal. However, the figures tend to be more "realistic" than most
metal sets. The body proportions and poses are generally lifelike, and more
details (too many, sometimes)are present than on most metal figures in this
scale.
The best plastic horses are far better than any metal horses I have seen.
The Artillery pieces tend not to be as good as those available in metal, with
the exception of Revell, which are excellent.
Luis
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